Painless end

In addition to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the good people of Oregon decided by free election that they also desired the right to have death with dignity.

The last days of a cancer patient can be as painful to the friends and family as to the patient himself, and most of us have witnessed this tragic ordeal more than once. By permitting a physician to administer a painless end to the patient before the disease destroys every vestige of what this person once was, the patient can say goodbye to loved ones at the moment of death and leave them with a memory of dignity and peace.

Unfortunately, this right conflicted with the religious beliefs of people such as former Attorney General John Ashcroft, and he began the federal government's attack on the Oregon law. He also believed in draping material over nude statues, which tells us a lot about his mind-set. The matter was settled in the Supreme Court with a victory for the people of Oregon, and death with dignity will continue for now. But as the administration continues to appoint religious, conservative judges, the issue will no doubt be contested again in the future.

Although I am happy for the people of Oregon, I regret that my home state of Florida will probably never consider extending this right to its citizens -- at least during my lifetime.